Hannity Campaigns At Trump Rally After Promising That He Wouldn’t Get On Stage [UPDATE]

Over the weekend, the Trump campaign sent out a press release touting its final rally that would include “special guests appearances” by Rush Limbaugh and Fox News host Sean Hannity. Prior to Team Trump blasting out that email, Fox News had announced that Hannity would be interviewing the president on Monday night. Following the rally announcement, a network spokesperson noted to CNN that Hannity was holding his show there live and doing an interview, indicating that “Hannity is not sponsoring the rally or campaigning for Trump.”

On Monday, the Fox News star clarified that “in spite of reports,” he would be “interviewing President Trump before the rally.” Also, he wanted to make it “clear” that he would “not be on stage campaigning with the President. I am covering final rally for my show.”

In spite of reports, I will be doing a live show from Cape Girardeau and interviewing President Trump before the rally. To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President. I am covering final rally for my show. Something I have done in every election in the past.

Yet, following Hannity’s broadcast that included both a short interview/friendly chat with Trump and the Fox News star playing to the live crowd, Hannity made his way up on stage and delivered some remarks to the crowd.

Speaking to the crowd, Trump said he had “people who are very special, they have been with us from the beginning” before calling Hannity up to the stage.

“Come on up, Sean Hannity,” Trump bellowed.

After Hannity made his way to the stage and hugged Trump, he took the mic and pointed out to the press, parroting one of the president’s favorite attack lines: “By the way, all those people in the back are fake news.” (Some of the folks in the back were Fox reporters, so…)

After the crowd booed the media and cheered on Trump and Hannity, the White House shadow chief of staff acted surprised that he was beckoned by the president, telling Trump “I had no idea you were going to invite me up here.”

“The one thing that has made and defined your presidency more than anything else — promises made, promises kept,” Hannity continued. “Four and a half million new American jobs, 4.3 million Americans off food stamps, four million Americans out of poverty, and we are not dropping cargo planes of cash to Iranians who chant death to America. Mr. President, thank you!”

That sure as hell sounds like someone being up on stage and campaigning. Additionally, Another Trump-boosting Fox News host, Jeanine Pirro, also made her way on stage and delivered remarks shilling for the president and Republican Party.

Jeanine Pirro: "If you like the America that he is making now, you gotta make sure you get out there tomorrow if you haven't voted yet. Everyone you know… get 'em out to vote for Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/arnEuDgfbe

We reached out to Fox News to see what they think about their host getting up on stage and speaking at a campaign rally. We will update this post if we hear back.

Watch the clip above, via CSPAN.

UPDATE 11/6/2018 12:50 PM ET: A Fox News spokesperson gave the following statement to Contemptor:

“FOX News does not condone any talent participating in campaign events. We have an extraordinary team of journalists helming our coverage tonight and we are extremely proud of their work. This was an unfortunate distraction and has been addressed.”

Hannity also tweeted out his own statement on his rally performance:

What I said in my tweet yesterday was 100% truthful. When the POTUS invited me on stage to give a few remarks last night, I was surprised, yet honored by the president’s request. This was NOT planned.

To be clear, I was not referring to my journalist colleagues at FOX News in those remarks. They do amazing work day in and day out in a fair and balanced way and It is an honor to work with such great professionals.

Justin Baragona is the founder and publisher of Contemptor. He was previously the Cable News Correspondent for Mediaite and prior to starting Contemptor, he worked on the editorial staff of PoliticusUSA. During that time, he had his work quoted by USA Today and BBC News, among others. Justin began his published career as a political writer for 411Mania. He resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife and pets.